A Case Study in Simplifying Musician Bookings TuneTies
Project overview
TuneTies simplifies musician bookings by offering a comprehensive filtering system. Users can effortlessly refine their search based on genre, location, musician availability, and budget. Detailed musician profiles coupled with seamless communication tools empower users to make informed decisions and ensure a stress-free booking experience.
Client
For this project, I collaborated with Tuneties, a fictional music streaming service, on a freelance basis. Together, I focused on enhancing the user experience and ensuring uninterrupted music playback in the app design
Solution
Imagine diving deep into the world of TuneTies, where every challenge becomes an opportunity for innovation. As I crafted the design solutions within TuneTies, my focus was on putting the user at the center of it all. The goal? To weave magic into the musician booking journey, turning every interaction into a smooth, delightful experience. TuneTies isn’t just an app; it’s a transformational journey, where efficiency meets elegance, and users are empowered to book their favorite musicians effortlessly
Tools
Figma & FigJam photoshop
Team
1 UX designer 6 Developers 1 Project manager
My Role
UX Research UX Design
Timeline
Week One: UX Research, Ideate and Design Week Two: Test and Iterate
My design process
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01 Empathize
02 Define
03 Ideate
04 Protoptype
05 Test
Unserstanding the problems Emapthize
During the empathize phase of the project, I conducted user interviews to build new personas and to inform the design. Together with the team, we prepared an interview script with 32 open-ended questions, focusing on our target audiences’ values, motivations, and daily routines. In 4 days, I recruited and interviewed 5 users remotely. We referenced the user interview findings throughout the entire design process
Sample interview questions
- 1.How do you currently go about booking musicians for wedding events, and what challenges have you faced in this process?
- 2. What specific criteria do you consider when selecting musicians for weddings, and what features would make the booking process easier for you?
- 3. Can you share any experiences or pain points you've encountered while booking musicians for wedding events?
- 4. In your ideal scenario, what features or functionalities would you like to see in a musician booking app designed specifically for wedding planning?
“I really emphasized the need for the interface to be easy to use. It should make finding and booking musicians for my wedding a breeze. Keeping it simple and intuitive is what I’m looking for.”
Research Synthesis
With valuable insights gathered from my user interviews, I organized the findings into user persona & empathy maps. These tools aided me in creating design deliverables that effectively addressed the identified user needs and pain points.
Define- establishing the user's needs and problems Empathy mapping
In my research, I used empathy mapping to explore what users think, feel, say, and do in various scenarios. This helped me deeply understand their perspectives, guiding the design process to create more user-centered products and services
Who are we designing for? User Persona
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user persona
Goals
define
02
User frustrations
Creating the framework Ideate
ideation , storyboard & Sketches
Storyboard
To expand on my thought process, I utilized the crazy 8 exercises to extract the nascent ideas that were forming in my head since the research phase.
(Each crazy 8 brainstorming session entailed of 5-minute intervals of potentially 8 sketches with an intentional break of 20-30 minutes. Although there were times I could not come up with 8 sketches, this exercise forced me to squeeze out ideas that I wasn’t sure of.)
After going through 5 different rounds, I compiled my sketches and grouped them according to themes.
Sketches
Rough sketches
Using a marker and paper, I created rough sketches of the key screens and features of the app. Focusing on the layout, placement of elements, and overall user experience. My sketches were based on the initial user interviews, the business goal, and the heuristic evaluation. I came back to the sketches throughout the entire design process to make sure that I didn’t lose sight of our primary goals and ideas.
Wireframing Phase Analysis
I analyzed WeddingWire, GigSalad, and Eventbrite for TuneTies’ wireframes, aiming to:
- Identify industry standards and user patterns.
- Leverage successful elements.
- Simplify the booking journey for musicians, especially for weddings.
Key findings guided intuitive designs for a seamless user experience.
Design system
I developed TuneTies, a unique music booking app tailored explicitly for couples seeking shared musical experiences. The name TuneTies signifies the connection through music, while the chosen red and white color scheme symbolizes unity and passion in relationships. The vibrant red represents energy and excitement, while white signifies harmony and togetherness within the app’s design and branding
After brainstorming several names, including Harmonic Union, Melody Bond, and Rhythmic Connection, I settled on TuneTies, aligning perfectly with the app’s purpose. The name embodies the idea of intertwining musical preferences and shared experiences, complemented by a vibrant red, gray and white color palette that resonates with energy, unity, and togetherness without referencing any previously mentioned names.
Usability Testing
Lofidelity prototype usability test
I conducted a usability study with five participants remotely in Canada, focusing on their experience with our booking app. Key details
- Date: October 11 and 12
- Participants: 2 Males, 2 Females, 1 Nonbinary, aged 20 - 75
- Diversity: One user used assistive technologies, one had a visual impairment, and one had limited English proficiency
- Session Format: 30-minute sessions with introductions, task lists, and questionnaires
- Goals: Gather insights on time on task, navigation vs. search usage, error rates, drop-off rates, and conversion rates
- Incentive: 10% discount on booking
Key Metrics (KPIs) Measured
- Time on task
- Use of navigation vs. search
- User error rates
- Drop-off rates
- Conversion rates
Usibility findings
- Easy and simplified data entry
- Users prefer direct route, no scrolling
- Timely messaging and notification
- Order confirmation desired
Theme #1 Simplicity
3 out of 5 participants felt its time time-consuming to have a separate page to fill in the day, month and time when they can do it at once
2 out of 5 participants expressed its time-consuming for three separate fields
"Entering the wedding date in three separate fields feels a time-consuming. It would be great if i could just input it all at once (P3)"
Theme #2 Efficiency
5 out 5 participants don’t want to have a long scroll in order to reach the button to send a quote
5 out of 5 participants felt frustrated as the “Get Free Quote” button is placed at the end of the page making it hard to notice it
expressed its time-consuming for three separate fields
"The musician's profile is quite long, and scrolling through it all just to get a quote feels a bit time-consuming.” (P1)"
HIfidelity wireframe
Accessibility Considerations
Screen Reader Compatibility: I’ve prioritized compatibility with screen readers to ensure effortless navigation and access for all users.
High Contrast Options: Adjusted contrast settings to enhance readability, offering improved visibility and accommodating various user preferences.
Clear Navigation: Implemented menus and controls designed to be intuitive and easily comprehensible, facilitating smooth navigation across the app.
Keyboard Functionality: Ensured comprehensive accessibility through keyboard navigation, enabling users to operate all features without relying on a mouse.
Descriptive Image Text: Included detailed descriptions for images, providing essential context for users with visual impairments to engage effectively with visual content.
Compliance with WCAG Standards: Adhered strictly to WCAG accessibility guidelines, creating an inclusive and accessible user experience as per industry standards.
User Testing: Engaged with visually impaired individuals for invaluable insights and user-focused improvements, ensuring the app caters to diverse user needs effectively.
Reflections & Take-aways
This app was created as part of a school project where I explored the world of UI/UX design. Developing TuneTies has been an enjoyable and enlightening journey for me. Throughout this experience, I’ve gained valuable insights into user interface and user experience design principles. This project has not only allowed me to showcase my skills but also taught me numerous lessons about creating intuitive and engaging digital experiences. It has become a significant addition to my UI/UX portfolio, highlighting the practical learning and fun I’ve had while working on it.
